Should this be allowed?

[SBrooks1]

Nobody at HDD seems to want to return my e-mails so I'll post this here. In regards to user RandellG's Amazing Amazon Pre-Order Page and thread here...

Amazon Pre-Order list

and his site which he links to here - http://aapop.us/home.html

Each of his links link to the listed Amazon.com Blu-ray movie but with a referral tag attached. For example, Gangs of New York...

His link is this - http://www.amazon.com/gp/aws/cart/ad...rom+Amazon.com

Notice where it says....AssociateTag=randellg. An Amazon.com Associate is someone who has a site that links to Amazon. They make commission off each sale if the person clicking the link places an order.

Launched in 1996, Associates is Amazon.com's affiliate marketing program. By linking to Amazon products and services you can add compelling content for your site visitors enjoyment and receive up to 15% in referral fees for doing so.

http://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/join

Details of Amazon's Associate program are here - http://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/join

Notice his links look exactly like Amazon.com says they should for Associate sites....





Info here - http://affiliate-program.amazon.com/...ssoc_join_menu

So my concern here is we have someone here making money off their fellow HDD'ers under the guise of providing info and links to Amazon.com pre-orders. If he wasn't concerned about making a profit he could just post normal links to each item without the referral tag.

I think profiting off your fellow HDD'ers in this way is wrong and shouldn't be allowed. Your thoughts?

[Badger3920]

If it costs people here, that are trying to buy stuff, extra money - then yes I think it's wrong.

If it simply costs the same, but Randell makes a commission, I don't see any harm in it. Why not click his tags everytime on purpose to support a fellow hdd member on stuff you were going to buy anyway?

Perhaps it's dishonest for him not to disclose that he makes some cash on it - but I have a feeling that if he did, people could be scared away from his links because they haven't heard of the program and don't understand it (such as myself)

[Jimbo976]

I think it's one thing to have it all in a single thread that people can go to if they want but making sure to post his links in every possible thread about any upcoming release seems a bit much to me.

[dandeeswish]

I don't think this is such a big deal, I truly don't. I know for a fact that there are people that come to these boards that aren't regulars & they only come to unload their crappy unwanted movies in the Buy/Sell Thread to beat out Ebay fees. So did somebody just make a profit??? Absolutely!!! I do agree however that this information should have been disclosed & common knowledge...but is it hurting anyone-NOPE!

[BambooLounge]

I am in favor of disclosure, but do not find it to be that big of a deal. It would be ideal though if the refferal links were limited to his single "pre-order" thread (are they?) If so, then it is not that big of a deal, if you check his thread for pre-order info then he is sort of providing a service and it does not cost anyone anything extra when you click on the link.

[SBrooks1]

Originally Posted by BambooLounge

I am in favor of disclosure, but do not find it to be that big of a deal. It would be ideal though if the refferal links were limited to his single "pre-order" thread (are they?) If so, then it is not that big of a deal...

No they aren't. He posts them in many various other threads and even creates new threads apart from his main one post these links. I don't see it as providing a service at all. I find it very disingenuous and self serving. I've always been one to post news and info on various message boards all over the net but I would never do so with the intention of profiting off anyone.

[Jesterkeeters]

I agree this is ridiculous. He does a service by providing info on preorders and you're going to complain that he makes a profit off of it though it isn't money directly out of your pocket you pay the same either way purchasing it from Amazon. So why cause a big deal out of it if you don't like it then don't click on his links and order from them.....

[RandellG]

I don't see the problem. I have spoken to mods about it already, when I first started doing it and they are aware of the affiliate link.

I don't see why you complain when you pay no more and with me taking my time and letting people know when new stuff is up (which takes a lot of time) I think I deserve what little bit I get out of it. Part of which goes to pay for my site I opened.

You say I deceive but I never said I made no money off it. I don't lie about the pre-orders and see no reason I can't continue to post them. I don't flood threads or the boards. I just do what everyone else has been doing for sometime now.

I say if you have a problem with it, don't click on my links. I was just saving people the trouble of having to search AMZ for the stuff. I posting the links to AMZ is no different than anyone else doing it.


EDIT:

BTW since I started doing this your the only one that has said that there anything wrong with it, everyone else said it was a good idea and helped them.

[RandellG]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

I think it's one thing to have it all in a single thread that people can go to if they want but making sure to post his links in every possible thread about any upcoming release seems a bit much to me.

I only post them in the pre-release buzz pages or if there is none make one, and my thread, which I only up-date once a day most of the time.

[JLee]

I am surprised that the OP didn't know that most links out to shopping sites from forums are an affiliate link (if the person who made the link is smart anyway). I don't see any problem with it - what's the big deal?

The HDD forum itself has an affiliate ID when you click on an Amazon listing, I think. This has been going on forever in basically any forum you go to. No big deal, IMHO.

[SBrooks1]

Originally Posted by JLee

The HDD forum itself has an affiliate ID when you click on an Amazon listing, I think. This has been going on forever in basically any forum you go to. No big deal, IMHO.

Yes I knew that. Their referral is "panandscathed-20" and I can fully understand HDD doing it. They have a major site to run here. I just think it's wrong for regular users to do this and profit from their fellow board members. It doesn't matter if it's not any money out of my pocket or not. I'm just of the opinion that it's wrong to profit off people in this way. If that makes me the bad guy then so be it.

[RandellG]

Originally Posted by SBrooks1

Yes I knew that. Their referral is "panandscathed-20" and I can fully understand HDD doing it. They have a major site to run here. I just think it's wrong for regular users to do this and profit from their fellow board members. It doesn't matter if it's not any money out of my pocket or not. I'm just of the opinion that it's wrong to profit off people in this way. If that makes me the bad guy then so be it.

I wouldn't say it makes you a "bad guy" cause you stated your opinion and theres nothing wrong with that.

You say HDD has a big site to run, yes they do, but take a look around the forum is surrounded my ads which unless I'm wrong HDD get money just for having them on their site.

But you don't know how my home life is. How do you know I'm not doing this so I can help put food in my kids mouth? You don't. How do you know I'm not doing it to keep a roof over my head? You don't.

My point, you say HDD has a big site to run, but you never looked at my side and said, well why is he doing it? Could he be short on money? Is he trying to raise money to go to collage? Is his wife pregnant with their third kid?

Again I'm not saying your a bad guy, but look on both sides of the line before making judgements.

[Blu-News.com]

Hmm, I really don't think it's a problem. He hasn't been posting his links out of hand imo. It's just like Ruvic's price drop thread isn't it? His page is actually pretty great. You're not paying more for a pre-order.

I don't know how revenue system of it works, I actually took off all forms of advertising on my site. I have my site because it's something I love, not something I need to make money off. Studio support is all I could ask for.

But overall I don't think he has done anything wrong, he has kept it well organized, and the only time he posts in movie threads is to say the pre-order is up.

Also, this is High-Def Digest, this is not Blu-ray.com. High-Def Digest has some of the best staff and mods around, and it's why I visit this site almost hourly it seems. Love everything about it.

[Rishi]

Does it cost you anything to click on the link? No.
Is someone forcing you to click the link if you don't want to? No.
Is the link deceptive in any way about where it's taking you? No.

Is Randell providing a useful service to HDD members rather than spamming? Yes! So who gives a damn if he makes a few bucks from it?

[Chief]

No big deal, After all if he gets someone a good deal and they are happy then all the more power to him.